In an historic wide-scale employment of RNP RNAV procedures, Transport Canada granted WestJet approval to begin RNP 0.10 RNAV operations throughout Canada (for comparison, RNP 0.3 corresponds roughly to non-precision approach position accuracy requirements). The Canadian agency approved design criteria for the new procedures based on the U.S. FAA's Advisory Circular 120-29A, and, in an unusual action, delegated responsibility for the RNP procedure deployment to Naverus of Seattle.
The TSA is seeking comments on an interim rule transferring background check authority for aliens seeking flight training in the United States from the FBI to the TSA. The rule also includes security-training standards for flight school employees. The interim rule, which was published in the Sept. 20 Federal Register, establishes standards for the TSA security threat assessment process and proposes a fee to cover the costs of conducting threat assessments.
The NBAA is encouraging pilots to avoid filing multiple flight plans for the same flight where possible and to cancel other flight plans that will go unused prior to calling for clearance. Multiple flight plans cause ATC confusion and can result in delays. By reducing multiple flight plans, ATC will have a more accurate traffic demand count leading to better system planning.
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW307A turbofan seems on track for second quarter 2005 certification and should meet the manufacturer's specific fuel consumption numbers ``with some margin,'' claims Catrina MacKenzie, vice president for the program. This assures the Falcon 7X (see ``Special Report: Dassault Falcon 7X,'' page 126) will make its scheduled first flight in early 2005. The engine is flat rated at 6,100 pounds of thrust up to 18.4C and it will enter service with a 7,200-hour TBO, according to P&WC.
Last summer, we were bumming around the local airport on a Saturday morning, chatting with the crew of a fractional ownership turboprop. Presently, the passengers arrived and the crew greeted them. The pilots quickly settled the folks in the cabin, stowed their luggage, shut the cabin door and started the right engine.
Hubert Laurenz Naimer, founder and president of Universal Avionics, died in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 12 at the age of 82. Naimer spent more than 40 years in the cockpit of high-performance aircraft. His love of aviation led to several inventions and innovative products, such as the UNS-1 FMS first introduced in 1982. Since then, over 15,000 FMSes have been shipped. Until his death, Naimer led the company and continued to work with his engineers on new product concepts and designs. His son, J. L.
Newly installed NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen outlined his thoughts on the future of the industry and his role at the NBAA at a luncheon Sept. 17 at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. Approximately 500 people assembled in General Electric's corporate hangar to hear Bolen's speech, along with a presentation by Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell, which made the event the largest in the seven-year history of the association's REACHBAC meeting series.
Less than five years after NASA's Richard Whitcomb won the National Aeronautic Association's Wright Brothers Trophy for inventing the super-critical wing, the Rockwell Sabreliner 65, the first civil jet incorporating just such an airfoil, went into production. The Sabre 65's airfoil, designed by a team led by James Raisbeck, was completely redesigned forward of the spar to reshape the airfoil. More sweep and fuel capacity were added along with the change in chord section.
Dennis Day, chief pilot for Kellett Investment Corp. and O'Gara Aviation Co., both of Atlanta, died Sept. 10, flying his Christen Eagle. Day is survived by his companion, Ann Weiss; son, John; daughter, Kelly; mother, Donna; and brothers Douglas, Kevin and James. The family has asked that donations be made in his name to the American Cancer Society.
You too can have the zero gravity experience -- but it ain't cheap. Zero Gravity Corp. is the first, and so far the only, FAA-approved provider of weightless flight, which it's branded as The ZERO-G Experience. It uses a modified Boeing 727-200 (G-Force One) operated by Amerijet International of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The $2,900 fee buys a one-day program led by an astronaut in which the customer experiences 1/3-g Martian, 1/6-g lunar and 0-g conditions. Participants must be age 15 or older. Zero Gravity Corp. is headquartered in Dania Beach, Fla.
Dassault Falcon Jet, Teterboro, N.J., has named Eric Monsel vice president of programs. Monsel will coordinate all new Falcon options and the new projects developed for the completion programs.
Sikorsky Aircraft will buy Schweizer Aircraft Corp. in a deal that will give Sikorsky instant access to the light helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) markets. Sikorsky expected to complete the deal quickly. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Elmira, N.Y.-based Schweizer will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sikorsky, and the Schweizer workforce and management team are expected to remain at the company, with Sikorsky veteran Randy Simpson as general manager.
Cessna has developed several Service Bulletins that will enable its worldwide Citation Service Center network to install and certificate the new Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS) on the Citation X, Bravo, Encore and Excel.
Besides using his personal government-affairs expertise to help work the access issue, Bolen promised NBAA members that the association would strive to provide information ``that will raise the bar on safety and efficiency.'' The NBAA also will continue to be ``a world-class operational unit'' and ``provide learning opportunities that will increase the education and professionalism'' of member company personnel. ``Business aviation is a world-class industry, and you deserve a world-class association,'' Bolen declared.
Sounds like a chief pilot trip to me,'' said our scheduler. ``Honolulu, Sydney, Tokyo and home with 45 hours of flying time and only out of the office for four work days.'' These guys are always looking out for me.
An analysis of numbers provided by AMSTAT -- the New Jersey-based provider of aircraft fleet and market data -- indicates that U.S. sales of Beechjet 400 and 400A business jets improved during the first seven months of 2004, compared to the same period last year. However, the average asking prices for both types have dipped slightly.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Air and Marine Operations (AMO) fleet of Eurocopter AS350 B2/B3 and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are to be equipped with Precise Flight's Pulselite system. Pulselite allows flight crews to pulse any combination of an aircraft's existing external lights in patterns that create an illusion of exaggerated motion. The pulsing lights make an aircraft visible for miles, even in fog or smog.
Looking forward, Bolen anticipates a congressional battle in 2005 over aviation user fees, especially in light of recent comments made by Northwest Airlines CEO Richard Anderson, who suggested that business aviation is not paying its fair share of ATC system costs.
AvCard, Hunt Valley, Md., has hired Jamie R. Barrett as vice president of fuel programs and flight operations, a newly created position. Most recently, Barrett was senior vice president and national sales manager of Jet Aviation's Aircraft Management Group.
According to the chief pilot of a major West Coast charter/management firm, life would be easier for commercial operators if the feds would make an effort to coordinate their security databases.
The Falcon 7X is on schedule to be rolled out in Bordeaux by year-end, marking an important milestone in new aircraft design achievement at Dassault. Notably, it will be the first business aircraft to be fitted with fly-by-wire flight controls and a sidewall-mounted control stick, a system intended to ease pilot workload, provide greater flight envelope safety margins and improve ride comfort for passengers. The 7X will be capable of flying eight passengers 5,700 nm at 0.80 Mach.
Midcoast Aviation is now approved as an FAA Designated Alteration Station (DAS). As such, it can issue STCs and special airworthiness certificates for aircraft that are altered under an STC and require flight tests, and amend standard airworthiness certificates for such aircraft. Issuance of a DAS is a way for the FAA to delegate functions, reduce its workload, and hasten turnarounds for aircraft modification projects, Midcoast said.
The SafetyCell plugs cell phones into aircraft headsets, enabling the wearer to hear radio and phone transmissions simultaneously. The standard system unit is compatible with any cellular telephone that accepts a hands-free 2.5-mm jack. Adapters are available for other types of phones. The standard system unit works without batteries and thus requires a VOX style intercom for it to work properly; however, a battery-operated unit is available as well. Price: $109 Standard System Elite Solutions, Inc. 15455 N. Greenway/Hayden Loop
Kaman hopes to restart its K-MAX medium- to heavy-lift helicopter production line. Recently, Roger Wassmuth, director, K-MAX marketing and business development, said, ``The company has sold or leased seven of the aircraft so far this year. We are selling and leasing K-MAXs to a mix of new and repeat customers. The aircraft has established itself in the heavy-lift arena as a highly reliable performer.
